Oceania

====Melanesia====
{{Main|History of New Guinea}}
The original inhabitants of the group of islands now named Melanesia were likely the ancestors of the present-day [[Papuan languages|Papuan]]-speaking people. Migrating from Southeast Asia, they appear to have occupied these islands as far east as the main islands in the [[Solomon Islands (archipelago)|Solomon Islands archipelago]], including [[Makira]] and possibly the smaller islands farther to the east.<ref name="struct2072" />

Particularly along the north coast of New Guinea and in the islands north and east of New Guinea, the [[Austronesian people]], who had migrated into the area somewhat more than 3,000 years ago, came into contact with these pre-existing populations of Papuan-speaking peoples. In the late 20th century, some scholars theorized a long period of interaction, which resulted in many complex changes in genetics, languages, and culture among the peoples.<ref name="malenes" />